Massage device



Feb. 1 7, 1942. J. F. KLAES 2,273,710

' I MASSAGE DEVICE Filed Nov. 17, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 6'

INVENTOR! J ohn f K laes A TTORNE Y J. F. KLAES MASSAGE DEVICE Feb. 17, 1942.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 laes I Filed Nov. 17, 1938 uWE/v TOR! John I. h

. ATTORNEY vice.

Patented Feb. 17, 1942 UNITED stares Arsrir OFFICE 2,273,710 MASSAGE nnvron John F. Klaes, Denver, 0010., assignor, by mesne assignments, of one-half to J. Scott Hyde, Denver, 0010., and one-half to Helen Margaret Klaes, San Francisco, Calif.

Application November 17, 1938, Serial No. 240,964

1 Claim. (Cl. 12857) I This invention relates to massage devices of roller type adapted for use in the treatment of human ills and pains, and has as an object to provide an improved construction for and arrangement of elements in such a device. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved roller-type massage device which is A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of pressure-transmitting elements in a roller-type massage device, whereby all portions of an area traversed by such device are-manipulated and massaged without undesirable concentration of pressure on certain points or sections of the area.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of handle means adapted for the convenient and effective manipulation of a roller-type massage device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved rollertype massage device that is simple of manufacture, positive and efiicient in operation, adaptable to a wide variety of specific uses, and which requires no maintenance.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of elements as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic development of the cylindrical working surface of the improved de- Figure 2 is an end elevationof a simplified embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 is a section longitudinally of the showing of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a plan view of the showing of Figure 2 wherein 'is illustrated an alternative form or modification of the handle means. Figure 5 is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, longitudinally of a modified construction of the improvement. Figure 6 is a fragmentary, detail section similar to Figure 5 and illustrating furtural embodiment of the invention. Figure 9 is a transverse section of and at right angles to the showing of Figure 8. Figure 10 is a fragmentary,

detail elevation, partly in section, of a structural arrangement advantageously employed in the embodiment according to Figures 8 and 9. Figure 11 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section illustrating a modified construction of the device. Figure 12 is a fragmentary detail section transversely of the showing of Figure 11.

The improved'device consists, essentially, of a cylindrical roller mounted for rotation about its axis in and carried by handle means whereby the roller may be manipulated in engagement against an area of the human body, and provided with pressure-transmitting elements or fingers fixed in spaced relation on and projecting radially from the cylindrical surface of said roller. As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, a simple embodiment of the invention comprises a hollow, cylindrical roller l5, formed of any suitable material, preferably magnetically-susceptible metal, in any desired manner. The ends of the roller l5 are traversed by parallel plates or spiders l6 disposed in perpendicular relation with the cylincler axis and provided with bores aligned on the cyilnder axis to receive and rotatably engage with pins l1 engaged with and extending inwardly from a handle assembly. The handle assembly preferably consists of a pair of identical, V-shaped end frames l8 and grip bars [9 interconnecting in fixed or integral relation between corresponding free ends of the frames I8. The pins I1 are engaged with and extend inwardly from the apices of the frame l8 and, when engaged in the journal bores of the roller [5, mount the handle assembly with its end frames I8 parallel with the end portions of the roller and the grips l9 parallel with the axis of the roller, so that an operator may conveniently grasp the grips I9 and roll the device back and forth across an area to be treated while applying such downward pressure as may be deemed desirable. Washers 20, or like spacing elements, are engaged about the pins [1 between the end frames I8 and the adjacent end portions I6 of the roller to insure free rotation of the latter relative to the handle assembly. In Figure 4 is illustrated a modified handle assembly wherein one of the grips I9 is replaced by a structurally equivalent bar l9 connecting between corresponding free ends of the frames [8 and supporting a handle grip 2| suitably engaged with its midportion and extending outwardly and radially of the cylinder l5 from said bar, which handle arrangement facilitates pushing and pulling of the roller across a surface engaged theresuch fingers.

by while a considerable downward pressure is applied to and transmitted through the grip IQ of the modified arrangement.

The surface of the roller l5 supports a plurality of pressure-transmitting fingers 22 formed integrally on or suitably fixed to said cylinder to project radially therefrom in suitably patterned, spaced relation. The fingers 22 are formed with smoothly convexed ends adapted to engage against and manipulate the area under treatment, and are of a size to agitate and manipulate human fiesh without pain or discomfort. In Figure 3, the fingers 22 are shown as formed integrally with the cylinder IE, but it is to be understood that said fingers might well be separately formed and removably or fixedly engaged with said cylinder in any conventional and wellknown manner. The diagram of Figure 1 illustrates the pattern for a preferred arrangement of the fingers 22 on the cylinder l5, though such pattern is susceptible of infinite variation without departing from the principle or" the invention. As shown in the diagram, the fingers 22 ,are' so placed as to be in staggered relation cir- ,cumferentially, longitudinally, and diagonally of l6 of the cylinder are formed as closure plates,

holes 23 are provided through said walls to permit access of sterilizing agents to the interior of the roller assembly.

The construction hereabove described is susceptible of advantageous employment as a mechanical device, but'in the treatment of certain conditions its beneficial effect may be enhanced by charging the roller assembly, and more particularly the fingers 22, with magnetism. When thefingers 22 are formed separately from and subsequently fixed to the'roller l5, it is obvious that said fingers may be of magneticallysusceptible material while the roller itself is of magnetically-non-susceptible material, in which event the fingers alone would be magnetized and productive of a consequent therapeutical effect equal if not superior to that resulting when the entire roller assembly is magnetized.

In the modified construction shown in Figure 5, the essential elements of the invention are in all respects identical with that previously described, the modifications being structural and mechanical only, and consisting of the addition of anti-friction bearings '24 operatively between the pins IT and end walls of the roller as sembly, and the provision of a removable and replaceable sleeve 25 carrying the fingers 2'2 and adapted to telescope over and be suitably secured, as by means of screws 2%, to the smooth cylindrical surface of the cylinder 55, thus providing means for conveniently changing the size,

character, and specific pattern or arrangement of the fingers 22 by substitution of one sleeve assembly for another in operative relation with a single roller and handle assembly.

Figure 6 illustrates the use of removable rubber, or like yieldable, covers or envelopes 2'! 'on the manipulating ends of the fingers 22 for cushioning modification of the normal action of In Figure '7 is shown an arrangement of removable sleeve 25' and fingers 22 formed of relatively yieldable or resilient mate rial, such as rubber, which construction is of particular advantage for initial treatments on sensitive flesh or where a manipulation of a degree more moderate than can be obtained through the use of rigid fingers is desired.

In Figures 8, 9, and 10 is illustrated an embodiment of the invention particularly adapted to carry and transmit the force of magnetism. In this latter embodiment, the roller assembly is formed of two identical, semi-cylindrical portions l5, each being provided with complementary end wall portions l6 and carrying its complement of fingers 22, which portions are adapted to be joined on an axial plane to form a complete cylindrical roller assembly. The portions [5' are formed of magnetically-susceptible material and, when joined, are magnetically isolated from each other. In the arrangement shown, spacer elements 28, of magnetically-nonsus'ceptible material are interposed between meeting edges of the portions I5 said elements being shown as provided with oppositely-extending studs adapted to engage in holes in the margins of the portion IE to suitably position and hold said elements against displacement, and connecting elements 29, of magnetically-non- .susceptible material in the form of bolts or screws, engage between the portions I5 and diametrically of the roller assembly to firmly clamp and hold said portions together and in the slightly spaced relationship resulting from the use of the spacer elements 28.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a mechanical modification 0f the constructions hereabove described which is of notable advantage in maintaining a permanent magnetism in the pressuretransmitting studs or finger elements of the roller assembly. While this latter construction is susceptible of incorporation with a unitary roller of the type indicated at I 5 in Figures 3, 4, and 5, it is more practically combined with the split roller construction illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, since the separable roller halves [5' permil; of more convenient access to the interior thereof. The latter modification consists in the employment of U-shaped units of magneticallysusceptible material to form the pressure-transmitting elements of the roller assembly, such uni-ts constituting, when magnetized, permanent magnets of horseshoe type whereof one terminus is of one magnetic characteristic and the other terminus of the opposite characteristic, as is the nature of horseshoe magnets. In Figures 11 and 12 the pressure-transmitting fingers are indicated by the numeral 22 and are shown as being suitably paired by means of an integral, curved portion 30 interconnecting between adjacent finger elements. The U-shaped units thus formed are seated through holes in the roller shell [5 so that the curved portions 30 are within the shelland the finger elements 22" project radially and outwardly through the shell to the degree and in the manner hereabove set forth, the shell construction utilized for this modification being preferably of magneticallynon-susceptible material. The U-shaped units may 'be fixed in or secured to the roller shell [5 and in the: desired relationship with said shell in any suitable or desired manner, but a practical' and convenient method of so securing the units relative to the shell is to fill that portion of the shell interior occupied by the curved arches of the units with a plastic material which will harden in position and thus retain the finger units against relative displacement, certain cements, and the like, being readily available and entirely adequate to such purpose, the use of such a stabilizing filler being indicated by the numeral 3|. Th filler 3| is also of advantage in increasing the weight of the assembly, thus minimizing the necessity for downward pressure applied by the operator to obtain the desired degree of massage.

Since the improvement is susceptible of mate- .rial modification and variation in the specific form, construction, arrangement, and association I of its various elements, all without departing from the spirit and principle of the invention,

'1 wish to be understood as being limited solely by closely-spaced relation outwardly therefrom.

JOHN F. KLAES. 

